Health care issues, economics, and social structure in the United States

¶ … health is affected by behaviors, economics, and social structure.

Health is affected by behaviors in that if good habits are formed from the latter, the former is then influenced positively. However, if practices like smoking and excess alcohol consumption, the former is impacted negatively. Williams and Torrens (2010) has noted that intake of alcohol "beyond a moderate level is associated with numerous physiological complications including cirrhosis of the liver, various cancers, intestinal disorders, and brain function deterioration…Alcohol abuse results in illness and injury to others, including-but certainly not limited to-vehicular accidents, workplace injuries, poor fetal outcomes associated with fetal alcohol syndrome, and spousal and child abuse." The dietary behaviors people make in their lives has an effect in their lives, for example it may cause "enhanced morbidity and mortality…elevated consumption of fat, sodium, and sugar, leading to an epidemic of obesity and associated problems" (Williams and Torrens, 2010). Health is also affected and shaped by one's sexual behavior, which may cause problems like STDS, AIDS, gonorrhea, syphilis, cancer, and infertility. Health has an impact on society and economics in that the former has "tremendous power in aiding the allocation of resources and in assessing the relative importance of various diseases, from both human and financial perspectives." (Williams and Torrens, 2010). Furthermore, health is affected by economics and social structure by those who are in the lower socioeconomic strata; their access to quality health care is reduced. The availability and able to acquire comfortable housing, quality foods to improve their diet, and their overall mental and physical health are low when people don't have the financial ability. However, those who are fiscally capable have access to the finer things in life like better physicians, quality meals and living standards, which contribute to attaining optimal health.

2. Describe the three stages of medical technology development.

The three stages of medical technology development are that a background of a concept is laid out by theoretical research and experience. Next, a basic empirical research provides a framework of knowledge regarding the mechanisms needed, and "discovers points in a natural process that are susceptible to technological intervention, and suggests strategies for technological development" (OTA, 1976). The proceeding step is that the applied research is then directed to apply this basic knowledge to a practical purpose and will demonstrate the viability of the proposed technology. Once it was proven to be feasible and able to work, prototypes are constructed but this is where issues transferring the technology from the laboratory to the market arise. However, once the technological item of manufactured, its efficiency and ability to function is evaluated through field tests or discussions with potential users. Next, the object is marketed and if successful, adopted by a number of consumers and the public. Medical technologies undergo the basic steps of basic research, applied research and development, clinical testing, and diffusion.

3. Describe the major trends in population demographics over the past 80 years.

The major trends in demographics over the past 80 years are, according to U.S. Consumer Demographics, "the Baby Boom generation is aging. The most rapidly growing age segment in the U.S., is and will be, the 55" (2011) and that by 2015, the median age will be 37.4 years old but by 2030, it will plateau to 39. Demographic changes include the diversity and cultural makeup, which has grown the past years to include the growth of various ethnicities like African-American, Hispanic and Asian-America. It was noted that since 1980, "Hispanics in the U.S. has grown five times faster tan the rest of the population, making the United States the third largest Spanish-speaking country in the world. Seventy percent of U.S. population growth is the result of immigration, with 50% coming from Hispanic immigrants - a trend that is forecast to continue for the next two decades" (U.S. Consumer Demographics, 2011). Furthermore, Midwestern states have a larger amount of elderly inhabitants, thus reduced number of workers, which has encouraged the migration of immigrants to settle outside the East and West coasts. An example is that from 2000 to 2005, the immigration to parts of the Midwest exceeded 50%. Moreover, Wilmoth's (2006) study suggested that there will be "diversity that exists among the older adult population and argue that mounting disparities could increase the salience of public programs for certain segments of the older adult population. In addition, even under the best-case scenarios of improving health, lower disability, and declining mortality, the projected increase in the older adult population is likely to place heavy demands on federal, state, and local programs for older adults."

4. Describe the most important trends in mortality over the past century.